Committee Continues Education on Mobile DTV

WASHINGTON, February 3, 2010 – Helping key stakeholders prepare for the era of digital television (DTV) broadcasting to mobile and handheld devices, the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) hosted an informative Mobile DTV technology conference today.

This day-long event provided attendees with information about Mobile DTV technology and related industry activities, underscoring the momentum behind the new ATSC Mobile DTV Standard. The morning session’s tutorials focused on details of the ATSC Mobile DTV Standard, while the afternoon panels centered on strategies for broadcast facility implementation and operation. The event, held at Hogan & Hartson’s Fulbright Conference Center, was followed by an informal networking reception.

After welcoming remarks by ATSC President Mark Richer, the program opened with a keynote address from Sterling Davis, Cox Media Group, entitled “Broadcasters Move Forward with Mobile DTV.”

“It’s gratifying that broadcasters, in partnership with device makers and equipment suppliers, have stepped up to the plate in a cohesive way in order to help create a new business opportunity for us all,” said Davis, a member of the ATSC board of directors. “Consumers will appreciate the ability to view television everywhere.  Every part of the eco system will have additional products to sell.”

Additional speakers were Mark Aitken, Sinclair Broadcast Group; Art Allison, NAB; Wayne Bretl, LG Electronics; Rich Chernock, Triveni Digital; Brett Jenkins, ION Media; Mike Bergman, Kenwood; Anne Schelle, OMVC; Jay Adrick, Harris; Peter Mataga, Roundbox; Dave Benco, Rohde & Schwarz; Robin Wilson, NagraVision; and Kerry Cozad, Dielectric.

“As the broadcast industry is preparing to launch ATSC Mobile DTV services, it is essential that station engineers become familiar with the A/153 standard, the underlying technology and the system architecture that will impact their digital television plant,” said session moderator Jay Adrick, Harris.

“Common standards are absolutely essential when we have so many players involved whether you’re a broadcaster or a consumer equipment manufacturer.  It’s the thing that allows for interoperability and flexibility even as we compete at the content level,” added session moderator Jim Kutzner, PBS.

The meeting was sponsored by ATSC member companies including Harris; IEEE BTS; LG Electronics; Rohde & Schwarz; RRD USA; Thomson; Meintel, Sgrignoli, & Wallace and Roundbox.

Selected presentations from the seminar will be publicly available online within the next few days. Please visit www.atsc.org/seminars/mobile10.php

The Advanced Television Systems Committee is an international, non-profit organization developing voluntary standards for digital television. The ATSC member organizations represent the broadcast, broadcast equipment, motion picture, consumer electronics, computer, cable, satellite, and semiconductor industries. ATSC creates and fosters implementation of voluntary Standards and Recommended Practices to advance terrestrial digital television broadcasting, and to facilitate interoperability with other media.

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Contact Lindsay Shelton-Gross, ATSC (202) 872-9160, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it